FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – An educator who is a longtime assistant principal in the Freehold Township K-8 School District has been named the new principal at one of the district’s two middle schools.
On Oct. 15, Board of Education members named Thomas Smith, the assistant principal at the Clifton T. Barkalow Middle School, Stillwells Corner Road, principal of the school. The salary for the position is $134,000.
Smith’s appointment as principal will be effective from Nov. 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, after which he may be reappointed.
Smith has worked in the district for 13 years, including 11 years as the assistant principal at Barkalow. He will succeed John Soviero as principal, following Soviero’s retirement.
After board members voted to name him principal, Smith thanked district administrators, board members and his family for their support in helping him reach his new position in Freehold Township.
“Thank you to John (Soviero) for being such a great mentor,” Smith said. “Thank you to (Superintendent of Schools) Neil (Dickstein) and (Assistant Superintendent) Dianne (Brethauer). Thanks to the other administrators for their ongoing support and their nurturing of getting me to where I am today.
“I have to thank my wife, who keeps me grounded every day. I (will) make every decision as I want her to be treated in her school. I go home every day and I live her life where she teaches, too,” Smith said.